INSAF Center for Defending Freedoms and Minorities condemns the continuous violations that Yemeni citizen Bashir Al-Bakari is subjected to by the Security Department of Jabal Habashi District, Taiz Governorate, after accusing him of spreading Christianity.
Al-Bakari’s accusation came after he was summoned by the Jabal Habashi police in January 2021, west of the city of Taiz, to do justice to M. M. A. S. After his presence, Al-Bakari proved that the accusation against him was false, but the plaintiff accused him of being a Christian and preaching Christianity, which made the case took another turn. He was detained there for a week and was prevented from exercising his right to defend himself. After that, the case file was referred to the Criminal Investigation Department in Taiz Governorate attached with a note accusing him of proselytizing.
Bashir was detained and he was at risk of execution for more than two months, but later he was released after the charges against him were not proven. However, he continued to suffer from societal discrimination, being threatened of death, which prompted him on July 16 to flee the area and search for a safe place to live. Then The security forces issued warrants to arrest him. When the security forces came to arrest him, they did not find him. On July 18, they detained his 14-year-old son and released him on the same day, and then his brother on August 13, in order to pressure to turn himself in.
INSAF Center obtained the arrest warrants; one dated June 27, 2021, a second dated July 28, a third dated July 31, 2021, and one undated. Some of them indicate that the reason for summoning him to look into a suit brought against him by his cousins, while others do not indicate the reason for the forced arrest.
INSAF Center rejects the illegal security practices that Bashir was subjected to, the death threat he receives from members of the community, and the threat of execution by the police station in the district, describing them as practices that violate al-Bakari’s right to embrace the ideas he chose if it is proven that he is religiously converted. Article 6 of the Yemeni constitution affirms compliance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and with the Yemeni government’s commitments to the International Covenant on Civil Rights.
INSAF Center recommends the immediate investigation of allegations of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment of al-Bakari, and to stop the persecution of religious minorities in Yemen. It also recommends guaranteeing freedom of religion and protecting Christian and Baha’i minority groups from threats and acts of violence.
